This story appears in the March 2026 issue of Utah Business. Subscribe.
From movement to mindset shifts, these founders share the rituals that take them from chaos to calm. The tools they reach for in their mental health toolkits aren’t silver bullets or shortcuts — when used repeatedly, they make a difference. It’s through small, repeated actions that founders show up better for themselves and their businesses.
New York Puzzle Company puzzles
“Running a startup means my brain is always solving complex problems. Puzzles are a quiet problem that sits on the table and lets me take that same energy and channel it into something calming, focused and solvable. In those moments of sorting pieces and looking at the subtle differences of color and shape, my head clears, and I am able to solve the bigger problems of the day with clarity. Puzzles remind me to focus on the details and what I can control, piece by piece, and trusting that eventually it all will come together beautifully.”
— Alison Dunn
Co-Founder & CEO, NextTherapist
“Even-if” vs. “what-if” approach
“Our brains were designed to focus on the negative; it’s a survival mechanism that often serves us poorly. My ‘what-if’ mind is a worst-case-scenario machine. I stay connected to the truth by using the ‘even-if’ pivot. For every anxious thought, I insert a grounded reality: ‘Even if my voice shakes, I can still hit my talking points and my data is insightful.’ The truth moves me from paralyzed to proactive, and it clears the static and frees my mind up to operate the way I need it. So, even if the ‘what ifs’ are loud, I can use an ‘even-if’ pivot to get me back on track.”
—Tyler Brockbank, AMFT ACMHC
Founder & Therapist, Greencrest
“How We Feel” app
“As a founder, I can go days running at full speed without ever slowing down to check in on how I’m actually doing. I get so dialed into the task in front of me that I can easily lose touch with myself. The ‘How We Feel’ app gives me a simple way to pause and reconnect with my own emotions. The app is not only beautiful and fun to use, but it also helps me be more mindful and show up better in my relationships — both at work and at home.”
— Chandler Rogers
Co-Founder & CEO, Relay Health
10-minute walk
When I am feeling overwhelmed, discouraged or like my life is falling apart, I go on a walk. I learned this in therapy last year, but an elevated heart rate changes the chemical makeup in your brain. Cortisol gets replaced by endorphins. It literally clears your head, helping you see things more clearly.
— Matthew Holman
Founder, Subscription Prescription
Nonmusical “play” list
When you’re feeling off, disconnected, overwhelmed, or just “blah,” open up your “play” list. It becomes your personal reset button.
Here’s my list: Dad jokes, coloring, sidewalk chalk and hopscotch, watching funny videos on the internet (with a timer), hammocking, pickleball, conducting a fake orchestra while listening to a symphony, and listening to comedy and dancing (my favorite). When I dance, even for two minutes, my stress drops and creativity returns. The hard problem that felt impossible suddenly becomes solvable. It’s neuroscience.
— Bahaa Chmait
Founder, JoymobEvents
Connection
“Connection is vital to my mental health. I am almost obnoxious with how much I try and connect with people. I’m fascinated by people — by their lives and stories and struggles. It helps me realize I’m not alone in mine. What a relief to know we all share similar successes, failures and everything in between.”
— Jake Steele
Founder, Creative Director & Designer, Steele Design Company
